Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applied unto unconverted sinners, and saints…Meditations and discourses concerning the glory of Christ applyed unto unconverted sinners, and saints…

1. HAVE you in the way of your Profession had any Experience of these Spiritual Decays? I doubt not but that there are some who have been preserved green and flourishing, from their first Conversion unto God, who never fell under the power of Sloth, Neglect, or Temptation, at least not for any remarkable Season; but they are but few. It was not so scarce with any of those Believers under the Old Testament, whose Lives and Walkings are recorded for our Instruction; and they must be such as lived in an exact and diligent course of Mortification. And some there are who have obtained Relief and Deliverance from under their Decays, whose Backslidings have been healed, and their Diseases cured. So it was with David, as he Divinely expresseth it, Psal. 103. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me, bless his Holy Name: Who forgiveth all thine Iniquities, and herewith all thy Diseases: Who redeemeth thy Life from Destruction, and crowneth thee with Loving kindness, and tender Mercy: Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy Youth is renewed like the Eagles. So doth he celebrate his Deliverance from that State, whereof he complains, Psalm 38. which we mentioned before. And there is no Grace or Mercy that doth more affect the Hearts of Believers, that gives them a greater Transport of Joy and Thankfulness, than this of Deliverance from ⟨p. 50⟩Backslidings. It is a bringing of the Soul out of Prison, which enlargeth it unto Praise, Psal. 142. 7. Of this sort I doubt not but that there are many; for God hath given great warnings of the danger of a Spiritually decaying State; and he hath made great Promises of Recovery from it, and multitudes in the Church are daily exercised herein: but I speak in general unto all. Have you any Experience of such Spiritual Decays, either in the frame of your Spirits, or in the manner of your walking before God, or at least that you are prone unto them, if not mightily preserved by the Power of Grace in your own utmost Diligence? If you have not so, then I fear it is from one of these two Causes.

1. HAVE you in the way of your Profession had any Experience of these Spiritual Decays? I doubt not but that there are some who have been preserved green and flourishing, from their first Conversion unto God, who never fell under the power of Sloth, Neglect, or Temptation, at least not for any remarkable Season; but they are but few. It was not so scarce with any of those Believers under the Old Testament, whose Lives and Walkings are recorded for our Instruction; and they must be such as lived in an exact and diligent course of Mortification. And some there are who have obtained Relief and Deliverance from under their Decays, whose Backslidings have been healed, and their Diseases cured. So it was with David, as he Divinely expresseth it,